Ezekiel 42:20: “He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.”

October 5th, 2021 by Pastor Ed in devotional

According to these measurements for the outer wall, the future temple that God was showing Ezekiel in a vision was almost one mile square, which would take in much of the city limits of modern Jerusalem and be too large for what we currently consider as Mount Moriah. It seems that, if this is the future, then some really major changes in the city of Jerusalem will be necessary to make room for such a huge temple site. And we are told that amazing things will happen when Jesus returns:

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. (Zech. 14:4, NIV)

It is an exciting experience to visit Israel today and stand on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem and read these verses. Though the physical, geological transformation will be sweeping, it will seem small compared to the governmental and spiritual transformation that will take place when Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, is ruling and reigning there. In that day something like the Garden of Eden will begin to take shape, changing the whole area as the Creator takes His rightful throne. Living waters will pour from the center of the temple and flow down to the sea, healing and radically cleansing the land. The Apostle John writes in Revelations:

And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost . . . He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus (Rev. 22:17,20, NASB).

“LORD, we long for Your coming like a young child longs for their birthday. Jesus, come quickly.”